Severing device for fabric material



Sept. 12, 1961 A BRENNER 2,999,410

SEVERING DEVICE FOR FABRIC MATERIAL Filed. Dec. 13, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 3 l2 INVENTOR.

ABE BRENNER liq- 9% Sept. 12, 1961 A. BRENNER SEVERING DEVICE FOR FABRIC MATERIAL 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 13, 1957 INVENTOR. AB E BRE N N ER Sept. 12, 1961 A. BRENNER SEVERING DEVICE FOR FABRIC MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 13, 1957 INVENTOR. ABE BRENNER BY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ABE BRE N N ER BY ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1961 A. BRENNER SEVERING DEVICE FOR FABRIC MATERIAL Filed Dec. 13, 1957 Ill AIIA

rates Filed Dec. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 702,590 '5 Claims. (Cl. 83-485) This invention relates to fabric trimming or cutting apparatus in general. More particularly, the invention has reference to a device designed to facilitate the trimming of a skirt to a selected length, during manufacture thereof.

In the garment industry, it is necessary, in the manufacture of skirts and similar items of Wearing apparel, to trim the same to a selected length. This length will vary, of course, according to the size of the particular skirt, that is, the skirt must be laid on a table calibrated in inches and fractions of inches, so as to register one end of the skirt with a particular indicium, in a manner such that the location at which the skirt is to be trimmed or cut is registered with a slot of the worktable, into which slot a rotary cutting disc, manually operable knife, or equivalent cutting means moves to trim the skirt.

It has been found that in the cutting operation, the soft fabric tends to be forced downwardly into the slot by the cutting blade, in a manner such as to prevent eflicient cutting of the skirt. Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide means designed to facilitate cutting of a skirt or other garment to a selected length, swiftly and accurately, and without possibility of the skirt being forced into the slot by the cutting blade. In this way, it is proposed to speed up to a marked degree the complete operation, whereby to increase the number of pieces that can be handled by a worker in a predetermined period of time, while still insuring that each piece will be cut cleanly and accurately.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character stated which will include a roll of paper, designed to provide a backing for the skirt, which backing will extend over the slot, so as to provide a firm bottom on which the skirt will rest, and which will prevent the skirt from being forced downwardly into the mentioned slot.

Another object is to incorporate in the device means that will automatically move a fresh piece of the web of paper unwound from the mentioned roll, to a position in which it will constitute a backing for the skirt, with said movement being responsive merely to locating the skirt abreast of any selected indiciumon the scale provided upon one edge of the worktable.

Still another object is to provide, in the means mentioned immediately above, an arrangement whereby the web-advancing element will automatically retract to a position ready for advancing a fresh section of the web, responsive merely to removal of the skirt after it has been cut.

Still another object is to provide a machine as stated which will be relatively inexpensive, considering the benefits to be obtained from the use thereof, will be rugged, and simple in design, so as to permit its operation for substantial periods of time without danger of malfunctioning.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a skirt trimming device according to the present invention, a skirt panel being shown in proper position for cutting, with the cutting knife being raised preliminary to being lowered into the fabric.

atent O FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1, the web-advancing means being shown in full lines in the position assumed thereby when the paper has been advanced, and in dotted lines in its normally retracted, inoperative position ready for engaging and advancing a fresh portion of the web.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the device as seen from the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing the rear end portion of the machine, to illustrate the support of the roll of paper.

FIG. 5 is a still further enlarged, detail sectional view substantially on line 55 of FIG. 2, illustrating the movable block or follower of the paper advancing means.

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view, substantially on the same scale as FIG. 5, taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 1, showing the stop means for the advanced web.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, on the same scale as FIG. 4, showing the head end portion of the table, and illustrating the mounting of the pivoted knife.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, detail sectional view substantially on line 88 of FIG. 2, showing the web-engaging finger of the paper advancing means.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, on substantially the same scale as FIG. 8, taken substantially on line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another form of skirt trimming device embodying the invention.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 10 with a skirt piece in position for trimming thereon. 7

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings in detail, there are shown rectangularly spaced, vertically disposed. legs 10 formed at their lower ends with laterally extending feet 12, through which extend anchoring bolts 13 engaged in the floor surface F to fixedly mount the skirt trimming device in place. At their upper ends, legs 10 have laterally inwardly projecting extensions 14, riveted or otherwise fixedly secured to the opposite side portions of a flat work support plate or table 16, as for example by rivets 18 (see FIG. 4).

At its head end, table 16 has a downwardly rearwardly curving extension 20, terminating below the plane of the main or body portion of table 16 in an upwardly directed, transversely extending flange 22.

integrally formed upon one side edge portion of the table 16 is a wide, longitudinal projection or flange 24, the top surface of which is provided with markings 26 calibrated in inches and fractions of inches.

Riveted or otherwise fixedly secured to the upper end portions of the rear legs 10 are rearwardly projecting roller support plates 28 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). Adjacent their distal ends, plates 28 have upwardly opening, deep bearing slots 3i) receiving trunnions 32 provided upon opposite ends of a roller 34 that extends through the core of a roll 36 of paper, from which is unwound, below plate 16, a web 38.

Web is of a width extending over substantially the full transverse area of the plate, and as seen from FIG. 2, web 38 is trained about the curved head portion 20 of plate 16, with the free end of the web overlying the front end portion of the plate (see FIG. 1) so as to be disposed below one end portion of a skirt S to be trimmed.

Any suitable means can be employed for cutting through the fabric of the skirt and purely by way of example, there is shown a pivoted knife 40 extending transversely of the table above the same. Knife 10 at one end has an angular extension 42, disposed at a shallow obtuse angle to the main or cutting portion of the knife,

Extending through an opening of extension 42 is a pivot pin or rivet 44, extending also through an aperture of a laterally outwardly projecting ear 45 integrally or otherwise rigidly connected with one of the front legs 10.

The main portion of the knife has a shear blade 46, so that when the knife is swung downwardly from its FIG. 3 position, it will cut through the material of the skirt S.

In the illustrated example, the knife is manually operated, and hence is provided with a handle 48 at the end thereof remote from its pivot axis.

Suspended removably from the lower end of extension 42 is a weight 50, designed to normally swing the knife upwardly to its inoperative, rest position shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. The weight is selected, however, so that downward swinging of the knife can be effected without undue efiort on the part of the user, the weight being just suificient to overbalance the handle-provided end of the knife and cause the knife to tend to return to its rest position.

Should swinging of the weight on the extension 42 tend to prevent efiicient downward and upward movements of the knife during use of the skirt trimming device, the weight could, of course, be of the type that is fixedly connected to the extension 42.

Further, the cutting means could be a power driven assembly, such as a rotary, motor-powered saw blade conventionally used in the garment cutting arts.

It will be understood, accordingly, that the showing of the cutting blade is merely intended to be illustrative and not tmnecessarily restrictive of the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

When the knife swings upwardly, the swinging movement beyond its rest position can be limited by a lug or stop 54 projecting from ear 45 (see FIGS. 3 and 7).

Means is provided for advancing the paper web to a position overlying a transverse, knife-receiving slot 52 of the table. In other words, it is desired that each time a skirt is placed upon the table, and is moved to the left in FIG. 1. to locate the smaller end of the skirt abreast of a selected indicium 26,- the web of paper will be automatically advanced in a position underlying the part of the skirt that is to be trimmed off, with the advanced part of the web overlying slot 52. In this Way, when the knife descends into the slot, the paper web will provide a firm backing for the part of the skirt that is to be trimmed, so that the fabric of the skirt will not be forced downwardly into the slot.

To this end, the table is formed, intermediate its opposite sides, with a longitudinal, elongated slot 56 extending for substantially the full length of the plate 16 (see FIG. 2). A follower 58 is slidably engaged in and is guided by said slot, and as shown in FIG. 5, can include an abutment block or upper portion disposed transversely of slot 5 and sliding on the top surface of plate 16, and a lower portion 60 of inverted T-shape con.- nected to the upper portion by a screw or equivalent means 61.

Integral with and extending downwardly from the lower portion 60 (see FIGS. 2 and 5) is an apertured ear 62, to which is hooked one end of an elongated expansion spring 64 extending longitudinally of and below plate 16.

A web-advancing finger 66, comprising a highly resilient, thin length of leaf spring material (see FIGS. 8 and 9) tapers to a sharp point at its upper end. The upper end portion of finger 66 extends into slot 56, and the finger is tensioned to spring normally to the dotted line position thereof shown in FIG. 2. Movement of the finger to the right in FIG. 2 beyond this dotted line position is prevented by the adjacent end wall of slot 56.

The sharpened point or tip of finger 66 projects just above the top surface of plate 16, a distance sufiicient to engage the point in the web 38.

Finger 66, at its lower end, is secured by screws 68 'to move to the dotted line position shown in 2,

At this time, spring 64, contractng, moves block proximately to the dotted line position shown in Flu. 2. Now, however, assuming. that it is desired to trim a skirt, one moves the skirt under the knife, toward the left in FIG. 1. The smaller or leading end of the skirt, that is, the let -hand end viewing the same as in P16. 1, almost immediately engages the follower 58. The follower 58 and contacting edge of the skirt are grasped by the hand of the operator and jointly moved to the left in FIG. 1. Spring 64 is of relatively low tension, so as to offer little resistance to the movement of the follower from the dotted line position toward the full line position shown in FIG. 2.

This movement of the follower expands spring 64, and eventually, the spring is expanded sufiiciently to pull finger 66 to the full line position shown in FIG. 2. Finger 66, while in its dotted line position, would have engaged in the underside of the paper web 38. There fore, movement of the finger to the full line position of FIG. 2 will advance the paper web across the transverse slot 52, which slot is in intersecting relation to the slot 56.

With the Web thus advanced automatically responsive to proper positioning of the skirt upon the table, and with the skirt moved to a point disposing its smaller end abreast of a selected indicium indicating the length to which the skirt is to be cut, the cutting means is operated.

Operation of the cutting means causes the skirt to be trimmed to the selected length and, of course, the cutting means will also cut through the paper. In this connection, when the paper is advanced, movement of the same beyond a predetermined, advanced position is limited by transversely disposed stops 72 integrally formed upon the top surface of the table 16, or otherwise fixedly secured thereto. Therefore, when the cutting blade descends, only a relatively narrow strip of paper will be cut, this being the portion disposed between the knife and the stops, viewing the same as in FIG. 1. As previously mentioned, the paper provides a firm backing for the fabric which aids in the shearing operation.

With the knife raised, While still grasping the follower 58, one merely removes the skirt, and the cut-off piece of paper from the tip of finger 66, and releasing the follower 58, spring 64, tending to contract, will pull the follower back, while finger 66 springs back to its FIG. 2 position by merely bending the tip under the edge of the paper web 38.

When the finger springs back to its normal, dotted line position of FIG. 2, it is disposed under the web, and responsive merely to positioning of a new skirt on the web, the web will be forced down sufiiciently to cause the same to be impaled by the sharpened tip of the finger. Movement of the new skirt to the position to be out once again causes the finger 66 to spring to the full line position of FIG. 2 to advance the web across the slot 52.

Although the knife in the illustrated example cuts in a straight line, it will be understood that the cutting action may be on a curved line, a line oblique to the length of the table or along any other line.

In FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 is shown another form of the invention. The roll of paper 36 is provided with spools 33 at its ends in which fit the inwardly turned ends of support bars or rods 29. These rods are removably disposed in sockets 31 which are attached to one end of the table 16. Slidably mounted on the table is a crossbar '67 having depending end portions 65 terminating in inwardly turned short flanges 69. A bolt provided with a threaded shank 91 is adjustably threaded in a hole in one of end portions 65 so that the slider bar 67 can be fixed in any desired transverse position along the table, when shank 91 is engaged against the lateral edge of the table.

The indicia 26 are marked on the table to serve as guides for positioning bar 67. Centrally disposed on bar 67 are two upstanding ears 74. A pintle 82 passes through these ears. Disposed between the cars 74 is a clamp 71 provided with a curved body plate terminating at one end in a flat foot 71 and at the other end in an inclined upstanding handle 73. The body plate is provided with upstanding ears 81 through which pintle 82 passes. A coil spring 80 is wound on the pintle and its ends are so disposed that the clamp is biased with foot 71? pressing on the top of table 16. The foot can be raised from the table by pressing handle 73 downwardly against tension in the spring.

A groove 86 is provided near one end of the table. In this groove is set a channel bar or plate 85 having upper inwardly extending elongated flange portions 87 defining between their free ends a slot 88. If desired, this bar may be curved for cutting a curved line or margin C on the skirt piece S as shown in FIG. 11. A pair of removable clamps 75 are provided for engaging one end of the skirt and the terminal portion of paper web 38 on the table. Each of these clamps includes upper and lower fingers '76, '78. A handle 77 facilitates mounting the clamps on the table and removal therefrom.

Any suitable type of cutting instrument may be used for cutting the cloth placed on the table. In FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown a manually operable cutting device including a rotatable cutting blade 41 mounted on an axle 49. The axle terminates in a handle 43. A cylindrical roller 47 is fitted on the axle and rotatable with respect to the axle. This roller has such a diameter that it limits the depth of penetration of the cutter blade through slot 88 into the channel bar 85.

It is preferred for best operation of the device, that the paper 36 be of a somewhat stiff type, such as brown kraft paper. In operation of the device of FIGS. 1042, bar 67 would be set along the table for a desired size or length of skirt piece S to be cut. The paper web would be passed under the table and up over the end 84 to overlay channel bar 85 as clearly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The ends of the channel bar extend beyond both side edges of the table so that the cutter device can be mounted at one end without disturbing the position of the paper. The skirt piece S is then placed onthe table with one end engaged under clamp '71 and abutting the flat edge of side 67 of bar 67. Clamps 75 are then engaged on the other end of the skirt piece at the other end of the table. Now the cutter can be guided by the slot in the channel plate to cut the skirt piece along line C. In order to avoid tearing the paper web 38 as it passes under the table, opposite lower edges 79 can be charnfered or rounded to present smooth turning surfaces for the web.

The skirt or other garment is preferably folded at the waist into one-quarter of its width before cutting, however, it may be cut in half folds or in fully opened condition.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A device for severing a selected length of a fabric work piece composed of a material incapable of self sustained support over a slot in a flat support, comprising a flat support to completely support the workpiece thereon, a work supporting plate thereon, said plate having a slot therein, paper carried by the support independent of the work piece prior to the severing of the work piece and having a portion overlying said slot to provide a support for the full portion of said work piece, positioned over said slot, means transversely disposed across the support to retain the work piece in place on said paper support, and cutting means overlying the slot, means connecting said cutter means with said support to guide the same for movement along said slot of said plate, said slot extending for at least the width of the work piece and the spaced walls thereof guidingly receiving said cutting means for movement therebetween, the space of said walls being sufiicient to permit said paper to support itself thereover and said cutting means being movable progressively in and through the slot to progressively sever the work piece and underlying portion of the paper while the uncut underlying paper portion supports the work piece during the severing thereof.

2. A device for severing a fabric work piece to a selected length wherein the work piece is composed of a material incapable of self sustained support over a slot in a flat support, comprising a fiat support to completely support the work piece thereon, a work supporting plate co-extensive with said support and having a slot therein, a supply of paper carried by the support independent of the work piece to support the work piece prior to severing and having a portion overlying said slot to provide a base for the full portion of said work piece positioned over said slot, a bar transversely disposed across the support, said support having one edge marked with indicia for selectively positioning the work piece on the support, said bar being slidably movable on the support to retain the work piece in place on said paper base and in position over said slot, cutting means overlying the slot and supported by said plate, said slot extending for at least the width of the work piece and the walls thereof being relatively spaced to guide said cutting means for movement therebetween and to enable said paper to support itself thereover, and means connecting said cutting means with said support for movement in said slot, said cutting means being progressively movable in and through the slot to progressively sever the work piece and underlying portion of the paper, while the uncut underlying paper portion supports the work piece during the cutting thereof.

3. A device for severing a fabric work piece to a selected length wherein the work piece is composed of a. material incapable of self sustained support over a slot in a flat support, comprising a fiat support to completely support a work piece thereon, a work supporting plate co-extensive with said support and having a slot therein extending for the :full width of said support, paper on said support independent of the work piece to support the work piece prior to severing and having a portion overlying said slot to provide a base for the full portion of said work piece positioned over said slot, a bar transversely disposed across the support, said support having one edge marked with indicia for selectively positioning the work piece on the support, said bar being slidably movable on the support to retain the work piece in place on said paper base and in position over said slot and cutting means overlying the slot, said cutting means being movable progressively through and in said slot to progressively sever the work piece and underlying portion of the paper while the uncut underlying paper portion supports the work piece during the cutting thereof said slot extending for at least the width of the work piece and the walls thereof being relatively spaced to guide said cutting means for movement therebetween and to enable said paper to support itself thereover, and means connecting said cutting means with said support for movement in said slot.

4. A device for severing a fabric Work piece composed of a material incapable of self sustained support over a slot defined in a support surface comprising a support surface to completely support the work piece thereon, a slot defined in said support, sheet means independent of said work piece covering said slot and overlaying a portion of said support surface to define a co-extensive continuous supporting surface therewith on which said Work piece may be supported above said slot'prior to the severing of the work piece, means to retain the work piece on said sheet means and from movement relative thereto, movable cutting means on said support to progressively sever the work piece and sheet means and for progressive movement in and through said slot, the unsevered sheet means supporting said work piece over said slot until severed by said cutting means, said slot extending for at least the width of the Work piece and the Walls thereof being relatively spaced to guide said cutting means for movement therebetween and to enable said paper to support itself thereover, and means connecting said cutting means with said support for movement in said slot.

5. A device for severing a fabric work piece composed of a material incapable of self sustained support over an opening in a support comprising a support for the whole of the work piece, an opening defined in said support and extending beneath the work piece, means on and movable relative to said support opening to progressively sever the work piece, means between said severing means and support to guide said severing means as the same moves progressively relative to said support opening, sheet means on at least a portion of said support independent of said Work piece prior to severing said work piece to define a co-extensive continuous supporting surface therewith and on which said work piece is supported over said opening, said sheet means being severed with said Work piece during the movement of said severing means and the unsevered sheet means supporting said work piece over said opening until severed by said severing means, and means connecting said severing means with said sup port during the movement thereof relative to said support, said support opening extending for the width of said support and the walls thereof being spaced to guidingly receive the severing means for movement therebetween and to permit said sheet means to sustainingly support itself thereover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,085 Thomas Sept. 18, 1928 399,847 Dearing Mar. 19, 1889 1,070,133 Howe Aug. 12, 1913 1,288,038 Krook Dec. 17, 1918 2,039,251 Knight Apr. 28, 1936 2,135,060 -Voss Nov. 1, 1938 2,393,384 .Kress Ian. 22, 1946 2,600,041 Wright June 10, 1952 2,783,837 Bridges et al. Mar. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 153,717 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1920 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2 999,4lO September 12, 1961 Abe Brenner Itis hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as "corrected below.

Column 5, line 73 for- "workpiece" read work piece column 6, line 3, after "piece" strike out the comma; line 6, strike out "and" and insert the same after "slot, in same line 6; line 59, for- "slot and" read slot, same column 6, line 64, after "thereof" insert a comma.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of February 1962.

(SEAL). Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

